Flabbergaster - A Place for Music

The Weakenders

In today's day and age, musicians have become very self reliant in doing all their legwork and getting their music out into the hands of the public. Some choose to pursue it full time while others play music around their day jobs and for no other reason other than the fact that they enjoy it. Nashville, TN's The Weakenders is one of them. While the spelling in their name has been tweaked, it has a significant reference to their formation. When they first began, everyone lived in different states, and were only available during the weekends to practice. Now that everyone is within close proximity, they can devote themselves on a regular basis. I am reminded of Radio Head's original name, "On A Friday," because that was their original practice day. Personally, I love how they revert back to the days when bands had "The" in front of their name! Those days are missed!

Heavily influenced by The Rolling Stones, Tom Petty, Fleetwood Mac, and The Beatles, TW plays Rock 'n Roll, and they play it well. Jamming in the Nashville scene (as sparse as it is), there is a lot of opportunity for growth and recognition because music (especially their genre) is alive in well, and the crowd turnouts are plentiful! While TW just started, they remain optimistic that they will receive the recognition that every musician yearns for. Aside from playing live music, they are also contributors to helping other make great music as two of their members (Joel and Eli) run a recording studio called, "Burning Bridge Recordings," and have only one goal in mind: To help artists make records that will live forever instead of polishing crap and helping them fake their way to success! One of their projects, Trenches, caught the attention of Solid State Records a few years ago and hit the shelves nationwide.

Visit their website to listen to their music. Their album "Everything and Nothing" is available for streaming. "Hazy Eyes," is my favorite track! Their music is lighthearted, playful, and complete with old school rock and roll bits and sounds (keyboards, 'whooing' in the background, and slow but steady guitar strumming). Give them a listen. Send 'em some love!

The Weakenders Official Bandcamp site

 

 

 

Remember CD's, Anyone??

This post has been burning inside of me for a long time. Music is on the verge of some big changes that won't be popular at first, but those who don't like change will soon learn they dislike irrelevance even less.

Over the past decade, downloading has progressively changed the way we obtain and 'share' the music we love. It has its pros and cons, but its where music is headed. Personally, I am tired of shuffling CD's in my car, and my iPod Nano is becoming a close friend. A hard copy is only a burnt disc away, so it seems!

My friend Nathan says, "Technology is the great equalizer, and people have an easier time achieving their goals because of it." Technology has created an opportunity for making music easy to find and enjoy. Another friend of mine said he is ok with buying a t-shirt and some concert tickets if he can download the album for free.

I will admit that there are things I like and dislike about the changes in music and in the music industry, but am beginning to come to terms with it. I will admit that I still believe in paying and supporting an artist that is trying hard to make ends meet, but I also like the idea that music is easier to distribute and share, and bands have an equal opportunity to expose themselves without having to seek out help, and suffer under 'helps' terms. I will also admit that I have gotten lazy and enjoy streaming new music on Spotify just because its there, and I'm curious to check it out. CD's have become a pretty useless medium and I'm surprised people still buy them, at this point. The only significance behind them at this point is the artwork and layout,...but even then...that can't save a bad album if the music is terrible. You might as well just buy a poster and hang it on your wall.

The reason I started Flabbergaster.net was because I liked promoting and sharing bands with people and trying to get them to take an interest in their music themselves. I also enjoy reviewing albums and encouraging people to form their own opinion after giving it a listen.

We've gotten so used to checking out bands that were represented by record labels that it will take sometime to readjust our thinking. Personally, I think music will always be a business. Musicians will always need smart business people to assist (and screw)them!

Will the era of people not wanting to pay for music ever pass? Of course not. The era of people taking things without paying for them is never going to pass, and people have always been "sharing" music, even before our internet savvy days. Before people figured out how to burn CD's, they copied them onto cassettes.  I have been guilty of both.

At some point, people will have no choice to pay for music on some level. If people want good quality music, they will have to absorb some of the cost. The ongoing debate is: how many people need to be involved in the production and distribution of music. The middle man is losing a lot of power as artists are finding ways to get their music to their fans without him. There are several talented musicians out there that often go unnoticed because no one will give them a chance, and now they have a fair opportunity to forge their own path. I'm all for that! Record labels don't need to evaporate completely, but they do need think of something, and FAST!

 

Solid State Signs "Wolves At The Gate."

Solid State Records (A subsidiary of Tooth and Nail) recently joined forces with Cedarville, Ohio's Wolves At The Gate, and their forthcoming material seems promising and passionate. Solid State has done well with their band judgement over the past decade and have introduced some great artists to the music industry (UnderOath, August Burns Red, Demon Hunter, Norma Jean). 

Their music is passionate, heavy and has duo vocalism. Their lyrics have meaning, and their tone has forceful energy. Even though they now have a reputable label behind them, they have proven they handle their own legwork. Always a plus. Labels are sketchy on investing in bands who won't invest in themselves, first.

The only thing that surprised me about them making the SS roster was due to the fact that one of the last bands they signed was "To Speak of Wolves." Could it be that wolves are becoming a rock icon, or did they just happen to have a good feeling about both bands?

The band has 3 songs available on Spotify. My favorite song is, "My Trials To Your Agonies, They Do Not Compare."

A release is anticipated mid November 2011! Give it a listen!